Defining priorities for future research and extension efforts will hinge on adaptation to changing climate conditions, according to ag stakeholders from the Pacific Northwest. 

Rep. Joe Courtney (D-Conn.) recently introduced a bill offering young farmers the same kind of student loan forgiveness given to teachers, nurses and other public servants.

Saudi Arabia’s decision to phase out forage production will increase demand for imported high-protein alfalfa hay. The additional 825,000 metric tons of projected imports would be worth roughly $250 million per year at 2016 prices.

The hay price tallies of 2016 aren’t good, but the average hay prices received for 2016 as recently reported by the USDA National Ag Statistics Service (NASS) isn’t unexpected, either.

Widespread winter precipitation improved moisture conditions throughout the U.S., providing optimism for the 2017 growing season. Meanwhile, hay prices generally remained low and steady, but buyer interest was picking up in early February, suggesting the marketing year was beginning to thaw.

A press release from Titan Machinery Inc. announced the closing of 14 agricultural dealerships during the first half of 2017.

Along with the hope better hay and other commodity prices will improve income margins in 2017, forage producers will likely encounter something else they haven’t seen in a while – rising interest rates.

Deadly storms that ravaged much of south Georgia Jan. 20-22 also damaged or destroyed many irrigation pivots that supply needed water to agricultural crops.

USDA’s 2016 Crop Production report provides harvest summaries and other information for hay and forage crops. The numbers might also offer reasons why hay prices are at six-year lows.

USDA’s crop production and hay stocks reports will update 2016 hay and forage production totals, hay inventories and alfalfa new seeding acreage estimates on Jan. 12, 2017. For now, most hay growers and marketers can be happy 2016 is in their rear-view mirror.